(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson was angered by the referee’s decision to award a penalty against his side in their 2-0 loss to Liverpool.
Liverpool were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time after referee Michael Oliver adjudged Mamadou Sakho to have fouled Mohamed Salah. James Milner stepped up and converted from the spot to give the Reds a 1-0 lead at Selhurst Park before Sadio Mane sealed all three points in the dying minutes of the game.
The 71-year-old manager was furious about the referee’s decision and said he believes Liverpool didn’t deserve to be leading 1-0 at half time.
“There is some comfort or pride in the team’s performance, but it’s not going to change my anger at the way we came in at half-time a goal down,” Hodgson told reporters after the game.
“I don’t think that’s a penalty. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. It’s a cause for frustration and anger.
Hodgson said he would be very disappointed if his team got a penalty the way Salah did.
“It’s not a penalty. I’ve been in football a long time. If that’s a penalty, then the game has changed beyond all recognition. There’s no way he’s looking to foul the player. He’s trying to defend. There’s no way he’s looking to get contact on the player himself.
Read: Salah can play much better, says Liverpool boss Klopp
“If people can’t see that then I’ll be the pariah who only sees what he wants to see. I shall never accept that’s a penalty. I don’t want penalties for my team in that way.”
Hodgson, however, accepted the red card decision as his side were reduced to 10 men with 15 minutes to go after full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka was sent off for a foul on Salah.
“It is one of those things. He [Wan-Bissaka] definitely touched him. I don’t think he was intending to. The referee was right to send him off,” he added.
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